Toothpick



Sem. 18,1923. www5 A. C. NIELSEN TOOTHPICK Filed March 14, 1923 Patented Sept. l, M23.

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ANDREW C. NIELSEN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TooTHrIcK.

application mea March 1a, 1923. serial no. 625,627.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ANDREW C. NIELSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and e State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in rloothpicks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toothpicks and has for its object to provide a toothpick lo which in addition to its ordinary function of dislodging material from between teeth may also be used as a tooth-scraper -for removing foreign matter from the corners and faces of the teeth. A feature of the invention is the formation of the toothpick in such manner that it is concave or shaped at the ends after the manner of a spoon, so that in use thereof matter between the teeth or in the -liollows of the teeth will be carried out in the concave side of the toothpick. ln other words, it has a spoon-like end, and this end is of considerable strength or rigidity.

When an ordinary quill toothpick is cut off acutely, as usual, it forms a thin point which is comparatively fiat, and although it may be used between the teeth it has little rigidity for surface scraping. ln the presf cnt invention, the toothpiek is hollowed out or spoon-shaped, and its edges form a continuous line in the same plane entirely around the piece. rFhis reinforces the edge and gives rigidity, and also permits the use of thin material.

Furthermore the ends of the concave piece instead of being open as in a quill pick are closed or completed in the plane of the edge. The particulars of the invention will be more fully apparent from the following de` scription andthe accompanying drawlngsf in which Fig. l is a plan of one form of toothpick made according 'to the invention. Fig.. 2 a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 isa plan of a modification. Fig-5 is a side View of the same. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

The toothpick will conveniently be made of a material such as celluloid or the like. which can be either molded to form o1 punched from sheets and pressed to form. lt consists of an elongated concave body G. pointed at both ends, one `end 7 being relatively sharper and the other 8 being more obtuse. The term boat-shaped will perhaps describe the form as well as any, and it is to be noticed that the edge 9 is continuous and in the same plane. This edge may be used for scraping purposes, and the hollow or arch-shape is of maximum rigidity for the material used, and there is little tendency for the pick to become broken in or dinary use. The sharp end 7 is acute enou h to be readily entered between the teet while the blunt end 8 is particularly useful for scraping. ln the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the cross-section vis curved or arcuate. ln the forms shown in Figs. 4f to 6, the cross-section is angular, the sides join ing each other at the bottom at an angle, as indicated at 10, and the points on the body at angles 11. the side walls being fiat instead of curved as in the forms previously described.

Toothpicks constructed in the manner shown will have the advantages referred to above as w'ell as others which will occur to persons familiar with the subject, the material advantage being that in use the points and cutting edges of the article are reinforced or supported by the channel or spoonshaped structure, giving a maximum rigidity for weight of material.

l claim:

1. A toothpick concave in cross-section and having a continuous edge in a single plane. V

2. A toothpick having a concave body and concave ends terminating in points, the points being in the same plane as lthe edges of the body.

3. A toothpick made of molded material, concave on'one side and convex on the other, and having a continuous edge in substantially a single plane.

4. A toothpick .concave on one side and convex on the other, throughout its entire length, the ends being tapered to points inl the same plane asthe side edges of the intermediate body.

ln testimony whereof, l: affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANBREVV C. NELSEN.

VWiitnesses: JOHN A. BoMMirAnn'r, ROBERT Bowm. 

